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Treasure hunters plunder five priceless
guardstones The five priceless ‘guardstones’ (Muragal) of the 2000 year old ‘Watadage’ in Medirigiriya have been plundered by treasure hunters on Saturday night, archeological sources said yesterday. The ‘Watadage’ site comprising two ancient shrines and a dagoba is chronicled to have been built by Kings around 2000 years ago. It was reconstructed by King Kanistatissa in 160 AD. The ‘guardstones’ on either side of the entrance of the dagoba had been removed after destroying its foundation, built of bricks. Two holes were visible where the ‘guardstones’ stood.Two other ‘guardstones’ at the entrance of the shrine located on the western side of the ‘Watadage’ had been removed after digging the foundation. Another ‘guardstone’ on the northern side of the shrine had also been taken away. In this shrine, two statues of the Lord Buddha were partially damaged by unknown persons several years ago, in search of ancient treasures, reports indicated. All five priceless ‘guardstones’ have been robbed’, archaeological officials said. Medirigiriya police visited the plundered site and commenced investigations. No arrests have been made so far,police said. According to historical records, this ‘Watadage’ site had been reconstucted by King Agrabodhi (IV) in the 7th century AD King Sena (11) had also worked for the development of this site, between 853-887 AD. In 1100 A.D. Cholas form South India invaded the ‘Watadage’ destroying it partially during the regime of King Vijayabahu the 1st. This king had renovated it again in 1110 AD. Mr. H. C. P. Bell, the British Surveyor General had first found this site and it entered the history books in 1893. Professor Paranavithana excavated the site and renovated it in 1934. General’s aide shot at by suspected
Tiger The personal assistant of a general serving in the North, CaptainK. Wickremaratne was shot and was seriously injured by a suspected LTTE’r when the vehicle he was travelling in stopped at the signal lights at the Bambalapitiya, Dickman Road intersection around 3.45 p.m. yesterday police sources said. The driver of the vehicle Lance Corporal Bandara had suffered a shock as a result of the shooting. Sources further said about four or five shots had been fired at Capt. Wickramaratne. He was rushed to the intensive care unit of the Colombo National Hospital. After the shooting the attacker with his accomplice had fled the scene. Immediately an alert was on for the fleeing attackers. One of them travelling in a three wheel taxi had been stopped at a check point in Kirulapone. Police were grilling the suspected Tiger who was arrested at the time of going to press. Former Minister of Finance and Planning Ronnie de Mel, M. P. Matara left yesterday for London, New York and Washington on a private visit. He will meet several leaders in the political and financial world during his visit and also international financial institutions and Banks. "We are the Government in waiting" Mr. de Mel told ‘The Island’ President wants master plan for zoo President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Monday directed Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, W. P. S. Jayawardena, to draw up a Master Plan for the development of the national zoological gardens, in line with the recommendations made by a Committee headed by the former Director of the Dehiwala zoo, Lyn de Alwis. The President had, at a progress review meeting of the Ministry of Tourism, expressed a keen interest in implementing the recommendations and directed the immediate drawing up of a Master Plan, Mr. Jayewardena told ‘The Island’ yesterday. The Committee comprised Lyn De Alwis, Prof. of Veterinary Science, University of Peradeniya, Prof. Vijitha Kuruwita, Prof. of Architecture, University of Ruhuna, Prof. Lakshman Alwis, Director, Western Province, Urban Development Authority, Prasanna Silva and the Director of the Zoo, Senarath Gunasena. "When we took over the zoo 4 years back it was in a very bad state. When we met the President in May this year she directed us to appoint a committee to look into the prevailing situation and make necessary recommendations for its development. "The President is very keen to implement the recommendations and the Master Plan based on these recommendations will be prepared within a month," he said. According to the Secretary the proposed development projects will not require additional funding but be carried out with the annual budgetary allocations and the Zoo Development Fund. Island Capers One of our columnists had a strange experience the other day — one that rattled his bones and shattered his faith in humanity. He was on his way home in a three wheeler when a Ministerial car carrying a Minister who has much to do with the tone and quality of life, in the coming years here turned down his lane and pulled up on the right side of the the road and the three wheeler naturally swung to the left and just then the Minister opened the door on the left and gave our columnist a pretty nasty clout on his thigh. That was by no means the high point of the incident. After a cursory look at his car door and the three wheeler he imperiously waved the three wheeler on not bothering to even ask our stricken scribe whether he was O. K. The scribe in turn was so shocked that for a moment he was speechless. Then he got down from the vehicle just ask that great statesman whether the state was removing civic mindedness and civil conduct from the code of conduct for students, when he was waved off for the second time by the security guard. Whatever he was doing or not doing he was sending out the message of power much better than Bertrand Russel did in his treatise on the same subject. Air Lanka got new Airbus at best
possible price AirLanka was able to secure the purchase of its six new Airbus A330-200 aircraft at the best possible price and time will show that it was a good deal, AirLank Commercial Manager, Peter Hill, told ‘The Island’ yesterday. The aircraft will be delivered to the buyers -- AirLanka -- from October 1999 onward. Mr. Hill was replying to a question regarding the controversy surrounding the purchase of the new aircraft. Local media speculated recently that AirLank did not get a good price on the new additions to its fleet. However, Mr. Hill refuted these allegations and said, "The prices we got on the aircraft were second to none. It was a very, very, very good deal for AirLank". He added that AirLank was pleased with the airplanes and that they would have got them sooner from the Airbus Industries had it not been for a long waiting list. "It was the right choice", he reiterated, "Time will tell if the right decisions were made and actions will speak for themselves," Mr. Hill told ‘The Island’ in an interview. The six new Airbus A330-200 will be in addition to the carrier’s existing fleet of four Lockheed Tristars, two A320s, and nine Airbus A340s. The airline will also have an option of acquiring a further six Airbus A330s or A340s or a combination of both. The new craft will be "ultra-modern". Once the new fleet is in place, the company hopes to phase out the four Lockheed Tristars which are over 10 years old. The company will also increase the utilisation of their aircraft, hiking flying hours to about nine-and-a-half hours a day. This would lead to more capacity and "fewer problems with the aircraft," he said. He explained that many technical difficulties arise due to the aircraft being grounded for prolonged periods (as it was in the past) rather than being used often. It is expected that the utilisation will be increased to 12 hours a day during the winter season. Speaking on whether the wide media speculation and ‘unpleasant’ publicity attracted by the AirLank deal could have been avoided, Mr. Hill commented that "if more information had been put out in the early days with regards to the real arrangements between the government and Emirates" on the AirLank deal, there may have been more transparency surrounding the entire issue. Consequently, speculation may have been cut down. However, he explained, it had been necessary to keep much of it confidential as revelation of details could have compromised the deal at that time. Mr. Hill noted that the first five months since Emirates took over AirLanka has involved a number of changes and formulation of plans for further changes. He said he could sense a renewed optimism among the AirLank staff and an interest in improvement. When Emirates started operations, it was found that the company lacked decisive policy and direction while the customers were given "more of the same thing". The company is in the process of updating the computer systems that are in use at present as they are not geared towards the new millennium. A significant amount of money is expected to be pumped in to bring the outdated systems up to date. Among those to be replaced are the revenue accounts systems, while the check-in and reservations systems will also be updated to increase efficiency. Meanwhile, in keeping with plans to give the airline a corporate identity, uniforms will be changed, interiors re-decorated and amenities and facilities on board increased. These will include personal television, telephones on board, camera in the sky (which enables passengers to watch take-off and landing) and new menus, Mr. Hill said. Forces get their own command and staff
training college at Batalanda Army Command and Staff College, established to train selected groups of armed forces officers expected to take higher positions in the services will be officially opened on Friday [28] army officials said yesterday. First of its kind in Sri Lanka, the college will help the armed forces to prepare officers holding the rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel to take up higher commands in time to come, an authoritative spokesman said. "The first ten-month long resident course has already started," he said adding that 26 officers of the SLA and one from the SLAF [Squadron Leader] were doing the course. Army Command and Staff College has been established at the Batalanda Housing Scheme of the State Fertilizer Manufacturing Corporation. The British Army has assisted the SLA to establish the college. "We have mainly followed the British line" a headquarters officer said. The spokesman further said that British advisors were here to help SLA to complete the work relating to the establishment of the College. Sri Lanka earlier used to send officers for Staff Colleges abroad. However the number of vacancies allocated to Sri Lankan armed forces men were not in keeping with the expansion of the forces in the past decade. "We really needed our own college" the spokesman said adding that courses conducted at Army Command and Staff College will assist the top brass to prepare future leaders. The spokesman described the courses conducted at Army Command and Staff College as Post Graduate Courses. Majority of the first batch of 27 -- majors, lieutenant colonels and one [squadron leader] were from the infantry. Fourteen infantry officers were among the first batch. The rest come from armour, artillery and other units. The college can accommodate 30 officers. At the moment courses have been restricted to regulars. Candidates have to be nominated by their respective units. They have to pass the Staff College Examination to be selected for the course which will help them to go for higher command and control positions of the respective services. SLA has included local studies in the course which mainly follows the British way of running such an institution. "We have taken a lot of ideas" the spokesman said. Since the ‘Eelam’ war started increased number of both officers and men have been attending different levels of military colleges and other facilities in China, Pakistan, Israel, United States, Britain, India and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka has been also included in US army’s Expanded Relations Programme [ERP] under which selected groups of units including specialised formations have been trained by US Army. President Chandrika Kumaratunga is expected to attend the opening ceremony. The Staff College comes under a Commandant [major general] and a deputy [brigadier]. However about eight officers were directly engaged in the day to day running of the course. Army Command and Staff College is expected to taking in a few foreign officers in years to come. Despite the ongoing conflict, the government was determined to create conditions conducive for both the expansion and the improvement of the armed forces. SLA with over 3000 officers needs its own Staff College officers said pointing out that there was a need to prepare the officer corps with the continuing expansion. Army Commander Lieutenant General Rohan de S Daluwatte has proposed the establishment of the Army Command and Staff College. Officers were hopeful that the college will play a crucial role in preparing officers who one day will take up key positions. UNP to provide free legal aid for
'victimised' police officers United National Party [UNP] was ready to consider providing legal assistance to police officers recently sent on compulsory leave for their alleged involvement in activities connected to the detention camp at the Batalanda Housing Scheme of the State Fertilizer Corporation. "If they feel they have been victimised for political reasons they are free to get in touch with us" party spokesman Karunasena Kodithuwakku said yesterday. Colombo District MP pointed out that people should not be victimsed for performing legitimate duties. If anybody feels that they have been victimised and harassed due to political reasons they can request for legal help from the party he said adding that the UNP was under obligation to help people who have been harassed for performing legitimate duties or their loyalties to the party. UNP’s Legal Division functions under working committee member Daya Pelpola. However the Legal Division was expected first inquire into cases and assess whether political victims have been engaged in any extra-judicial activities. The government last Wednesday sent five senior police officers on compulsory leave.They have been sent on compulsory leave on the findings of the Presidential Commission which investigated the circumstances relating to the disappearance of sub inspector Priyadhashana of Sapugaskanda police on or about February 20 1990 the circumstances relating to the arrest of Ajith Jayasinghe of Peliyagoda on or about February 24 same year and the establishment of a detention camp at Batalanda and the subjection during the period commencing January 1 1989 and ending December 31 next year of the persons detained to inhuman or degrading treatment. The Officer-in-Charge [OIC] of the Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe’s security was also sent on compulsory leave.He has made OIC of Mr.Wickremasinghe’s security in 1986.Trained in the United States he has been incharge of the 35 personnel assisgned to guard the Opposition leader. UNP media spokesman Saman Athavudahetti said that no replacement has been made upto Tuesday morning. Messrs Ranil Wickremasinghe , John Amaratunga and Joseph Michael Perera were among many others summoned by the two man commission comprised High Court Judge Dharmasiri Jayawickrema and Nimal Edward Dissanayake. Metropolitan Group committed to
providing integrated solutions The Metropolitan Group which celebrated its 40 birthday yesterday is committed to providing integrated solutions according to its chairman J. J. Ambani. He said at a press conference on Monday that it was with this in mind that the slogan "Together with you towards tomorrow" had been adopted. Ambani tracing the company’s history said that it had been incorporated in 1958 as an organisation providing business and office machines. "At that stage electronics were unheard of. What we provided were mechanical and electro mechanical devices. But today we are the biggest provider of office automations and the only company which caters to office needs in a comprehensive sense," he added. He said that the company which had provided the very first Sinhala electronic typewriter would be shortly introducing its Tamil counterpart to the market. He added that "since its humble beginnings the company had expanded into other areas such as telecommunications and plantations". Niranjan de Silva a director of the company gave a more detailed profile of the Metropolitan Group. He said that at its inception in the 1970s the company had been the major supplier of office equipment to the State Trading Corporation. "We were the first to introduce the Cannon copier or a copier of any kind to Sri Lanka and today there are over 12,000 users," he said. It has also introduced such equipment as cash registers and duplicators. In the 1980s Metropolitan Communications Limited had been set up. The company which has been associated with Ericsson of Sweden has a private network which caters to over 2000 users for both voice and data communication. Mr. de Silva added that they had introduced a computer based billing system for corporate customers and computer based voice processing systems for automated attendant and voice mail facilities. MCL is one of the prime suppliers to the national carrier. Recently, MCL launched Ericsson GSM Digital Cellular phones, connecting to the Digital GSM network. In the field of facsimile the company has a 50 per cent market share and in the area of plain paper faxes it monopolises with over a 90 per cent market share. He added that MCL had pioneered in wireless-local loop technology in association with the Swedish Telecom giant Telia. He said that already 50 million US dollars had been invested and that the company was committed to providing 100,000 lines by the year 2001. The computer arm of the company Mertopolitan Computers (Pvt) limited represents "some of the world’s most reputed manufacturers and innovators". Its principals include such names as Rowenta, Kenwood, Mordaunt Short, Simpson, Sencor and JVC. The chairman said that the company had always been careful about the principals it selected. Mr. de Silva said that in keeping with Metropolitan’s concept of providing total office solutions, the company maintains the largest customer care infrastructure in the industry. "We have set up a Central Service Centre which is the most advanced in the country. It includes advanced diagnostic facilities to prevent unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs. We even have training facilities for technical staff and a comprehensive technical library. We also ensure that a full inventory of spares and consumable is maintained," he said. The company has set up additional regional offices in key towns (Kandy, Matara, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Badulla and Gampaha) to enable residents in those areas to seek the service they require with the least hassle. Mr. de Silva said that the company had launched a programme of diversification and expansion. "We have ventured into areas such as plantation management, infrastructure development and reforestation. Metropolitan Resource Holdings (Pvt) Limited holds 51 per cent of the shares of Bogawantalawa which has a total area of 16,200 hectares under tea, rubber and coconut. "With over 18,500 workers it is the second largest company in terms of land utilisation and employment. In the last two years it was the second biggest value added tea exporter and was the first runner up in the larger category at the National Productivity Award 1997. It also won the trophy for the best Corporate Report and Accounts in the plantations category," he said. He added that the company had added mini hydro power projects and reforestation to its portfolio. He said that the digital millenniums meant the compression of time and space. "Everything is interconnected, and Metropolitan is committed to bring appropriate technology at affordable prices at the right time," he added. Director, Metropolitan Communications Limited, Roshan Tissera, Managing Director Metropolitan Communications Erajh Guneratne, Director Metropolitan Agencies (Pvt) Limited Taslim Rahaman, Director Metropolitan Agencies (Pvt) Limited M. F. Maharoof, Consultant Metropolitan Group A. Kumarasena and Managing Director Soma Ahangama Associates Soma Ahangama were also at the press conference at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi. Mid-Week
Politics Several political parties are experiencing internal problems. Last week problems surfaced within the Communist Party and last Monday the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) experienced the same. The Communist Party Central Committee last week suspended Messrs; H. H. Sarath and W. Chandrasoma, close confidantes of Minister Indika Gunewardene who leads the CP parliamentary group in the Kumaratunga Alliance government. The two were accused of holding a meeting at Colombo venue to discuss plans on the selection of candidates for the Western Provincial elections without the consent of the party’s Central Committee. It is alleged that they had planned to back the party’s popular man in Sitawaka, Avissawella, S. Almeida, a close associate of Minister Gunewardene. Party sources disclosed that Messrs, Sarath and Chandrasoma who are on the ministerial personal staff of the Minister have apprised Mr. Gunewardene of the suspension letters they received by express registered post last week. They are yet to decide on further action regarding their suspensions. EPDP leader Douglas Devananda now back in office with an affected eye after a brutal attack on him by LTTE prisoners at the Kalutara Prison, once again faced opposition from his two MPs who were suspended by him earlier. The two MPs, Ramamoorthy and Rameswaran later challenged the suspension in court and won the case. Last Monday during the Committee meeting of the Decentralised Budget Funds for the Jaffna District held in Parliament the two alleged that the EPDP leader had denied their allocation in the DCB funds for the districts. They were joined by SLMC MP Dr. I. M. Illyas. The three MPs later staged a protest against the reported action of Devananda at the Parliamentary Complex. The United National Party which experiences problems following the suspension of its most senior member Wijayapala Mendis now has a defected faction from the South. Mr. H. R. Piyasiri, a State Minister in the Premadasa government has formed another party called the Eksath Mahajana Peramuna. He is backed by two former backbenchers in the Premadasa government. They are Madurapala Ediriweera and P. S. L. Galapaththy. Former President D. B. Wijetunga denied nomination to Mr. Piyasiri at the 1994 general election from the Matara District; instead Mr. Wijetunga gave nomination to Mr. Piyasiri’s brother H. R. Wimalasiri. Mr. Wimalasiri was elected to Parliament from the district comfortably. Today he represents the Matara district under the UNP. The UNP says that under the new policy of the present UNP leader, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the party will not give nominations to two members of the same family. It claims that this policy may have hurt Mr. Piyasiri about his political future to defect and set up a new party. Mr. Piyasiri is popular with many government ministers in the Galle and Matara Districts. As the new State Labour Minister Mr. Piyasiri resolved many problems that were brought to him by SLFP MPs in these two districts. Today a few of them are cabinet ministers and are helpful to Mr. Piyasiri. Mr. Piyasiri held the first meeting of his party at Dickwella on Monday to launch the attack on the UNP. He said that he was in favour of the postponement of the PC elections which the UNP opposed. He expressed confidence that his party candidate who would contest the next Presidential election would get at least one vote more than the UNP candidate. Mr. Piyasiri was first brought into the limelight by none other than his mentor, former Finance Minister Ronnie De Mel. Mr. De Mel first appointed him as the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board and it was Mr. De. Mel who later removed Mr. Piyasiri from that post for reasons better known to Mr. De Mel. Mr. De Mel left the country for London prior to the 1989 general election following his disagreement with the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Mr. Premadasa decided to bring Mr. Piyasiri from the Matara district for that election as he was aware of the bitter relationship between De Mel and Piyasiri. The LSSP, a partner in the government is also experiencing internal problems. It’s firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the party says is having his own way. While the party appears to support President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a future Presidential poll, Vasudeva a fortnight ago told a meeting that the best candidate the PA should field was not Chandrika but Mahinda Rajapakse. Meanwhile, several left political parties are now holding talks to field a common candidate for the next Presidential election. These parties include the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. It is rumoured that many of them favour Vasudeva Nanayakkara as the common candidate. Vasudeva contested the 1982 Presidential Election through his former party, the NSSP and only polled 17,005 votes and his contender from the LSSP, Dr. Colvin R. De Silva polled 57,532 votes. JVP’s Rohana Wijeweera polled 273,439 votes. Meanwhile, the UNP has received information that a group led by a Buddhist monk, close to the Premadasa family and former UNP General Secretary Sirisena Cooray have planned to urge Mrs. Hema Premadasa to contest the next presidential election. This group is reported to be backed by a cabinet minister in the PA government. Mrs. Premadasa is yet to give her consent for it, a Premadasa family associate said. A Cooray loyalist said that their boss’s name is being used in political circles without the consent of him by this group. Mr. Cooray who was in India left for Australia last week and is expected to return during the first week of September. |
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